Blog + Lecturers' pay | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog+education/lecturerspay
Indexen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2017Fri, 18 Aug 2017 03:42:41 GMT2017-08-18T03:42:41Zen-gbGuardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2017The Guardianhttps://assets.guim.co.uk/images/guardian-logo-rss.c45beb1bafa34b347ac333af2e6fe23f.pnghttps://www.theguardian.com
Mass redundancies at King's College London are destroying moralehttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/jun/23/kings-college-london-redundancies-bad-management
Cutting up to 120 academic jobs will damage the reputation of the university and its prestigious Institute of Psychiatry, says a professor<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/jun/05/kings-college-london-cut-jobs-to-fund-university-buildings" title="">• King's College London to cut jobs to fund university buildings</a><p><em>• King's College London (KCL) plans to make up to 120 academic staff redundant across the schools of medicine, biomedical sciences and the world renowned Institute of Psychiatry. This will be done by ranking staff on the basis of their research grant income and teaching hours. Those who don't make the grade will be issued with notices of dismissal by 15 August. Staff have been offered the legal minimum of 45 days to contest the proposals.</em></p><p><em>• University and College (UCU) members at KCL are voting whether to take industrial action – the outcome will be known on 25 June.</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/jun/23/kings-college-london-redundancies-bad-management">Continue reading...</a>Management and administrationHigher Education NetworkAcademicsHigher educationEducationUniversity fundingLecturersLecturers' payKing's College LondonPsychiatryMon, 23 Jun 2014 10:38:44 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/jun/23/kings-college-london-redundancies-bad-managementPhotograph: Graeme RobertsonKing's College London plans to make up to 120 staff redundant in the health schools.
Photograph: Graeme RobertsonPhotograph: Graeme RobertsonKing's College London plans to make up to 120 staff redundant in the health schools.
Photograph: Graeme RobertsonSir Robin Murray2014-06-23T10:38:44ZMarking boycott: should postgrads who teach side with students or staff?https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/apr/22/should-phd-students-support-marking-boycott
Graduate teaching assistants have divided loyalties – we support call for better pay but worry about impact on students<p>New graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) are entering a workforce in dispute.</p><p>While I and my other first-year colleagues look forward to teaching work, we also have to take on a specific challenge: balancing our life as postgraduates with our position as staff. Graduate teaching assistants must carefully manage two roles, navigating situations from attending staff meetings to running into their students in the university bar.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/apr/22/should-phd-students-support-marking-boycott">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkLearning and teachingPhDPolicyHigher educationUniversity teachingLecturers' payStudentsTue, 22 Apr 2014 15:28:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/apr/22/should-phd-students-support-marking-boycottPhotograph: Denise Bertuchi/PRGraduate teaching assistants face a dilemma when it comes to supporting industrial action. Photograph: Denise BertuchiPhotograph: Denise Bertuchi/PRGraduate teaching assistants face a dilemma when it comes to supporting industrial action. Photograph: Denise BertuchiStephanie Boland2014-04-22T15:28:00ZAcademic ideals are being crushed to suit private-sector style managementhttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/feb/02/academics-management-university-private-sector
<p>If universities continue to heed the call of corporatisation, the role of the academic – as we know it – will become extinct</p><p>As an early-career lecturer in a post-1992 university, I often feel like a rare bird in an ornate cage struggling to maintain its dignity in a discount superstore filled with pets. This bird knows it could have been a proud representative of a noble lineage and chirrups dolefully as it ruffles its plumes, but the song is drowned out by the bustling sale of cheap, plastic imitation bird-objects around it.</p><p>The British higher education sector is in full-on crisis mode and those chosen or imposed to oversee this crisis are, in the main, non-academics and are recruited from the private sector. Academic ideals are being crushed by the visions of middle-management bureaucrats who view the progress and survival of higher education as requiring its surrender to private sector ideals. The changes in higher education over the past few years have been dramatic, with <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/jan/27/how-will-tuition-fees-affect-students" title="">£9,000 a year tuition fees</a> only the latest and most public step in what appears to be a wholesale corporatisation of the sector.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/feb/02/academics-management-university-private-sector">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkManagement and administrationAcademicsResearchPrivate providersRecruitment and HRPolicyFeesFinanceMarketisationHigher educationUniversity administrationUniversity fundingLecturersLecturers' payEducationSun, 02 Feb 2014 07:00:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2014/feb/02/academics-management-university-private-sectorPhotograph: Alice Bell‘British higher education sector is in crisis mode and those chosen to oversee this crisis are recruited from the private sector.’ Photograph: Alice BellPhotograph: Alice Bell‘British higher education sector is in crisis mode and those chosen to oversee this crisis are recruited from the private sector.’ Photograph: Alice BellAnonymous Academic2014-02-02T07:00:00ZUniversity bosses accused of bullying over strikes and payhttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/jan/21/university-strike-pay-dispute
At least 11 universities threatening to dock day's pay from any staff taking part in two-hour lunchtime walkout<p>University bosses have been accused of "penny-pinching and bullying", in a dispute over a strike by academics.</p><p>Across the country, thousands of lecturers are set to <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/jan/15/university-staff-strike-pay-offer" title="">walk out for two hours</a> on Thursday 23 January, over a pay dispute. But at least 11 universities have told staff that they will have their pay docked for the entire day if they go on strike.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/jan/21/university-strike-pay-dispute">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkManagement and administrationFundingAcademicsResearchFinanceRecruitment and HRPolicyHigher educationEducationUniversity administrationUniversity fundingLecturers' payLecturersEducation policyPoliticsTue, 21 Jan 2014 14:35:20 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/jan/21/university-strike-pay-disputePhotograph: Denise Bertuchi/PRStaff at Glasgow university on strike in December 2013. Photograph: Denise BertuchiPhotograph: Denise Bertuchi/PRStaff at Glasgow university on strike in December 2013. Photograph: Denise BertuchiMartin Williams2014-01-21T14:35:20ZUniversity strike: are you taking part?https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2013/dec/03/university-strike-3-december-pay
As university staff stage their second walkout in a row over pay, we want to hear from those who will and won't be striking<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/oct/30/university-staff-why-we-are-striking-higher-education-pay" title="">Six university staff on why they went on strike in October</a><p>On 31 October, university staff up and down the country <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/oct/31/university-strike-2013-fair-pay" title="">staged their first national strike</a> over pay for seven years. Three unions – the University and College Union, Unison and Unite – rejected the 1% pay rise offered to staff by employers, which the unions insisted equated to a 13% pay cut in real terms since October 2008.</p><p>We heard from a <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/gallery/2013/oct/31/university-staff-fair-pay-higher-education-pictures" title="">range of voices in the sector</a>, from professors to support staff, on <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/oct/30/university-staff-why-we-are-striking-higher-education-pay" title="">why they were taking part</a>. Nadje Al-Ali, professor of gender studies at SOAS, University of London, said: "So many of us are working every evening and every weekend at the expense of our health and out family lives. It is not surprising that between the increasing workloads and the pay squeeze, work-related stress is taking on epidemic proportions."</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2013/dec/03/university-strike-3-december-pay">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkManagement and administrationAcademicsProfessional developmentFundingFinanceRecruitment and HRPolicyHigher educationUniversity administrationUniversity fundingLecturers' payLecturersEducationEducation policyPoliticsUniteTrade unionsTue, 03 Dec 2013 08:01:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2013/dec/03/university-strike-3-december-payPhotograph: Tom Milburn/PRPlacards marking the picket line at the University of Exeter on 31 October 2013. Photograph: Tom MilburnPhotograph: Tom Milburn/PRPlacards marking the picket line at the University of Exeter on 31 October 2013. Photograph: Tom MilburnClaire Shaw2013-12-03T08:01:00ZUniversity staff: why we are strikinghttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/oct/30/university-staff-why-we-are-striking-higher-education-pay
As staff in higher education join picket lines up and down the country in a row over pay, we hear from those taking part<br /><br /><a href="http://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/gallery/2013/oct/31/university-staff-fair-pay-higher-education-pictures">Send us your picket line pictures</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/oct/30/university-staff-why-we-are-striking-higher-education-pay">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkFundingAcademicsResearchHigher educationTrade unionsFinancePoliticsEducation policyRecruitment and HRPolicyEducationUniversity administrationUniversity fundingLecturers' payWed, 30 Oct 2013 17:16:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/oct/30/university-staff-why-we-are-striking-higher-education-payPhotograph: David Sillitoe for the GuardianThousands are expected to strike across the UK. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The GuardianPhotograph: David Sillitoe for the GuardianThousands are expected to strike across the UK. Photograph: David Sillitoe/The GuardianClaire Shaw2013-10-30T17:16:00ZPredoctoral research assistant: how can I ask for a pay rise?https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/16/how-to-ask-for-a-pay-rise
A research assistant's responsibilities have steadily increased but her pay has stayed the same. Can she use the research concordat to argue for better wages? What would you advise?<p>Dear HE careers clinic,</p><p>I am a predoctoral research assistant (RA) at a University Alliance institution and over the last 6 years I have developed a good looking CV that shows a steady progression from desk-based research support to designing, collecting, analysing, singularly authoring peer reviewed articles and disseminating findings at conferences. I supervise several student placement projects (including an MSc dissertation) and step in for my line manager representing our work at executive meetings across the university. All good experience.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/16/how-to-ask-for-a-pay-rise">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkPhDAcademicsCareer adviceHigher educationEducationLecturersLecturers' payJob huntingWork & careersMoneyThu, 16 Aug 2012 11:47:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/16/how-to-ask-for-a-pay-risePhotograph: Ali Haider/EPADo you need divine intervention to get a pay rise in academia? Photograph: Ali Haider/EPAPhotograph: Ali Haider/EPADo you need divine intervention to get a pay rise in academia? Photograph: Ali Haider/EPAGuardian Staff2012-08-16T11:47:00ZUnpaid research internships reveal a dangerous hypocrisy in academiahttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/02/unpaid-research-internships-academic-hypocrisy
Employing free labour acts as a self-fulfilling prophecy for universities, reducing diversity in the workforce and weakening arguments for funding of paid posts, says Martin Eve<p>George Orwell once wrote, in a piece a trifle too defensive of an under-siege humanities while attempting to bridge the gap between two cultures, that "a mere training in one or more of the exact sciences, even combined with very high gifts, is no guarantee of a humane or sceptical outlook". Universities, in their administration at least, seem intent on proving Orwell's proposition.</p><p>University College London has just fallen foul of the angry Twitter mob and swiftly withdrawn an advertisement for <a href="https://www.martineve.com/2012/08/02/more-unpaid-academic-positions-and-apparent-culture-of-entitlement/" title="">an unpaid internship position within its department of clinical, educational and health psychology</a>, following a <a href="http://www.birminghampost.net/news/west-midlands-news/2012/07/05/university-of-birmingham-withdraws-unpaid-intern-advert-after-protests-65233-31327072/">similar case at Birmingham University</a> last month. While <a href="http://bengoldacre.posterous.com/another-unpaid-researcher-post-in-uk-academia" title="">Ben Goldacre has written an excellent response</a> to this latest case, in a time of difficulty for early career researchers, universities need to buck their ideas up and hands-down reject the culture of internships that pervades our society. If not for the good of a humane system, then for their own sceptical and critical outlook.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/02/unpaid-research-internships-academic-hypocrisy">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkAcademicsResearchPhDProfessional developmentHigher educationUniversity administrationUniversity of BirminghamEducationLecturers' payLecturersUCL (University College London)Job huntingWork & careersPayThu, 02 Aug 2012 17:57:21 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/aug/02/unpaid-research-internships-academic-hypocrisyPhotograph: David Sillitoe/GuardianUnpaid research internships could leave universities out of pocket as well as early career researchers. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the GuardianPhotograph: David Sillitoe/GuardianUnpaid research internships could leave universities out of pocket as well as early career researchers. Photograph: David Sillitoe for the GuardianMartin Paul Eve2012-08-02T17:57:21ZPay, performance and pensions are global challenges in higher educationhttps://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/19/ucea-conference-uk-canada-australia
Employer associations from the UK, Canada and Australia met recently to discuss the challenges and opportunities in managing the academic workforce. <strong>Paul Curran</strong> reports on the outcomes<p>Leaders of academic institutions tend to pull two large levers if they wish to change direction or speed: these are 'money' and 'people'. The increase in student numbers, the enhancement of education and research quality, widening participation, the strengthening of commercial links, increasing competition and inevitable financial constraints place even more emphasis on the 'people' lever.</p><p>The above developments are not unique to the UK, of course, and so for the first time higher education employers' associations from the UK (<a href="http://www.ucea.ac.uk/" title="">Universities and Colleges Employers Association</a>), Canada (<a href="http://www.caubo.ca/fbs/faculty-bargaining-services" title="">CAUBO/ Faculty Bargaining Services</a>) and Australia (<a href="http://www.aheia.edu.au/" title="">Australian Higher Education Industrial Association</a>) met in London with colleagues from around the world to discuss: '<a href="http://www.ucea.ac.uk/en/seminars/index.cfm/global" title="">Managing the academic workforce: global challenges and opportunities</a>'.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/19/ucea-conference-uk-canada-australia">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkInternationalManagement and administrationHigher educationEducationLecturers' payEducation policyWork & careersPensionsMoneyThu, 19 Jul 2012 11:17:13 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/19/ucea-conference-uk-canada-australiaPhotograph: AlamyOne main global challenge is the management of an ageing workforce, as a fixed retirement age ended several years ago in both Australia and Canada. Photograph: AlamyPhotograph: AlamyOne main global challenge is the management of an ageing workforce, as a fixed retirement age ended several years ago in both Australia and Canada. Photograph: AlamyPaul Curran2012-07-19T11:17:13ZFreelance, part-time or fixed-term: is this the future of academic careers?https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/11/careers-options-for-academics
Casual working arrangements are becoming increasingly common in HE. Join us, Friday 13 July, to share your personal experiences and consider the options available to academics<p>On 2 July 2012, the University of Birmingham found itself at the heart of a twitterstorm. The academic community took to the social network and every other medium available to decry what was perceived as the final nail in the academic career coffin: a University of Birmingham job advert for a "voluntary postdoctoral position".</p><p>Academics protested, the <a href="http://www.ucu.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=6159" title="">University and College Union objected</a>, and swiftly the university relented, taking down the ad and <a href="http://www.universitybusiness.co.uk/?q=news/birmingham-withdraws-advert-unpaid-research-assistant/5256" title="">issuing a statement</a> to explain its actions. Damage control done, but the debate about casualised employment for academics had begun - and rightly so.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/11/careers-options-for-academics">Continue reading...</a>Higher Education NetworkPhDLive Q&ACareer adviceProfessional developmentAcademicsHigher educationEducationLecturersLecturers' payWork & careersMoneyWed, 11 Jul 2012 15:56:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2012/jul/11/careers-options-for-academicsPhotograph: Christopher Thomond/GuardianIs the hope of full-time employment for academics dead? If so, what are the alternatives? Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianPhotograph: Christopher Thomond/GuardianIs the hope of full-time employment for academics dead? If so, what are the alternatives? Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianEliza Anyangwe2012-07-11T15:56:00Z